RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

'I told Richard at the time not to get his hopes up about it because it's too long, they're not going to play it on the radio,' he said

However, the song received radio air play and became the hit single.

Hit song: In 1978 MacArthur Park gained a fresh new audience thanks to disco queen Donna Summer. The revival earned him a number one song and music industry connections including John Lennon

Cultural significance: MacArthur Park has also had quite a significant cultural influence with hip hop group Wu Tang Clan sampling the chorus lyrics in their 1997 song The Second Coming

'People were yelling at me that it didn't make sense and why was I jerking them around with this song, they couldn't understand it and thought I was deliberately playing a joke on listeners,' he said.

But it was in 1978, a decade after the song first hit the airwaves, that MacArthur Park gained a fresh new audience thanks to disco queen Donna Summer, earning him his first number one song.

His song writing success gave him music industry connections with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and John Lennon.

Frustrated listeners: Jimmy, who has recently released his aptly titled memoir The Cake and the Rain, also added that to this day people are still frustrated with the strange lyrics of the song

He told the publication his friendship with the Beatles singer-songwriter was put to the test when he had to give a false disposition after Lennon, and their common friend Harry Nilsson, were accused of assaulting a photographer.

Jimmy, who has recently released his aptly titled memoir The Cake and the Rain, also added that to this day people are still frustrated with the strange lyrics of the song.

The song has also had quite a significant cultural influence with hip hop group Wu Tang Clan sampling the chorus lyrics in their 1997 song The Second Coming.

He is currently touring Australia, performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre on June 27, Sydney's City Recital Hall on June 29 and State Theatre in Perth on July 1.

Music tour: He is currently touring Australia, performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre on June 27, Sydney's City Recital Hall on June 29 and State Theatre in Perth on July 1 (pictured in 1968)